Bloody stools according to Chinese Medicine

Blood in stools and Hematochezia redirect here

Related condition: Black and tarry stools

What is bloody stools?

Fresh blood in stools can have many causes such as haemorrhoids, anal tears, or a disease like dysentery, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

What causes bloody stools according to TCM?

There are 6 patterns of disharmony in our database that are associated with bloody stools. TCM sees our body (and mind) as a holistic system in which health issues stem from imbalances, known as "patterns of disharmony". These patterns can manifest in a wide range of symptoms and illnesses, such as bloody stools here.

Most of the patterns associated with bloody stools are "Full" (also called "Excess") in nature. This means that according to TCM bloody stools is more likely to be an acute condition, caused by an excess of pathological factors or substances that overwhelm the body's defensive capabilities.

"Heat" is the most common of these pathogenic factors, present in 3 of the patterns associated with bloody stools. Other pathogenic factors and excesses which might contribute to bloody stools include "Dampness" and "Blood Stagnation".

For more details on the underlying causes and patterns behind bloody stools, refer to this comprehensive page on the subject.

Herbal formulas used in TCM for bloody stools

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Individual herbs used in TCM for bloody stools

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Acupuncture and acupressure points for bloody stools

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TCM dietary and lifestyle recommendations that might help with bloody stools

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